WordGarden.iogas
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɡˈæs/
US
- /ˈɡæs/
Meanings
Noun
a substance like air that expands to fill any space
fuel such as gasoline or natural gas, especially for vehicles, cooking, or heating
air or vapor in the stomach or intestines
More meaningsFewer meanings
poisonous or irritating gas used to harm or control people
(slang)marijuana, especially a strong or high-quality kind
Verb
to poison, injure, or kill someone with gas
Beyond the definition
"Gas" is a flexible word with a few very common meanings. Often, it means a substance like air that spreads out and fills a space, such as oxygen, steam, or helium in a balloon. In North America, it also commonly means gasoline, the fuel people put in cars. Another everyday meaning is air in the stomach or bowels, which can cause pain or embarrassment.
In more informal English, "gas" can also describe someone or something that is very funny or entertaining, as in "That movie was a gas." You buy gas for your car, scientists study gases, and people may talk about gas after a heavy meal. Because the meaning changes so much with context, the sentence usually makes it clear.
The word "gas" changes its meaning easily from one situation to another, and that is why context matters so much. In science, it refers to one of the basic states of matter. A gas has no fixed shape or volume, so it spreads out to fill the space around it. The air around us is made of gases, and people also talk about gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and helium. In this sense, the word often appears in school, science, and medicine.
In everyday North American English, "gas" very often means gasoline, the fuel used in cars. Someone might say, "I need to get gas," before driving home. The word can also refer to fuel used for heating or cooking, as in natural gas. So in daily life, this meaning is strongly linked with energy, driving, and household use.
Another very common meaning is air in the stomach or bowels. In this sense, "gas" is used in health and everyday conversation to talk about bloating, discomfort, or passing air from the body. It is a normal and frequent use of the word, even if people sometimes mention it in an embarrassed or joking way.
There is also an informal meaning that is lighter in tone. If a person, event, or story is "a gas," it is very funny or entertaining. This use is less common than the others today, but it still appears in speech and older writing. In some contexts, the verb "gas" can also mean to talk a lot, or to expose someone to a harmful vapor.
Because the word can point to science, fuel, the body, or humor, it covers a wide range of everyday English. A short sentence is usually enough to show which meaning is intended.
Examples
- 1
Car fuel
We need to stop for gas before we get on the highway.
- 2
Fuel prices
Gas prices went up again this week.
- 3
Kitchen appliance
Their new apartment has a gas stove, not an electric one.
- 4
Gas leak
The room quickly filled with gas after the pipe cracked.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Digestive discomfort
The baby woke up crying because she had gas.
- Phrasehave gas
have air in your stomach that feels uncomfortable
- 6
Empty fuel tank
We ran out of gas about ten miles from town.
- Phraserun out of gas
use all the fuel in a vehicle
- 7
Refueling
Can you gas up the car while I grab some coffee?
- Phrasegas up
fill a vehicle with gas
- 8
Driving action
He stepped on the gas as soon as the light turned green.
- Phrasestep on the gas
press the accelerator harder
See also
Forms and spellings
5 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- gasnounverb
Forms
- gasespluralnounverb
- gassedpast tenseverbnoun
- gassing-ing formverbnoun
- gassespluralnounverb